The State of Crisis Communication in Contemporary Nonprofit Literature

Abstract

ABSTRACT Emergency and disaster management and public relations literature both apply crisis communication strategies and theories, although the nonprofit sector is rarely examined. To deliver services effectively and disseminate critical information, nonprofit leaders must adapt to various contexts while also considering their reputation following crises. In addition to providing a theoretical framework for crisis communication in the nonprofit context, this study systematically examines recent literature on nonprofit crisis communication. The study reveals a set of crucial insights from nonprofit crisis communication literature, particularly surrounding four themes: 1) crisis sensemaking and crisis understanding; 2) nonprofit leadership and governance; 3) nonprofit structure; and 4) communication tools and networks. The findings open up a wide range of possibilities for further investigation into the dissemination of nonprofit crises, particularly empirical work utilizing longitudinal analysis. The findings provide applications for nonprofit leaders for becoming more aware of their crisis communication tactics.